Abstract Manager

The Saskatoon Freeway is a proposed 55 km freeway that would surround the City of Saskatoon. The project is currently undergoing a Functional Planning Study. The goal of this project will provide a reference concept for future procurement and include a recommended alignment for the freeway within a predetermined corridor. The project team consists of AtkinsRéalis, AECOM, and Praxis Consulting working with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways. This project will incorporate the anticipated traffic demand for the City well into the future, while also incorporating future neighborhood development plans.

An Environment and Heritage Technical Working Group (TWG) has been set up for the project, meeting regularly throughout the project to provide opportunities to stakeholders, regulators, City of Saskatoon representatives, First Nations and Indigenous groups, and conservation agencies to provide feedback and suggestions to the project team. Much of this feedback has indicated a desire for more intensive biological surveys to understand potential impacts, especially in sensitive natural areas that are present along the proposed route. The extent of these surveys was generally beyond what is conducted during a functional planning study, but this data has allowed for a greater understanding of the species and environmental features present.

These results also have helped the project team to develop plans for unique infrastructure, as well as strategies and opportunities for environmental enhancement and mitigation measures for the Saskatoon Freeway. These opportunities include:

• Bridge and infrastructure designs over the South Saskatchewan River that can incorporate wildlife crossings to preserve and enhance existing wildlife movement corridors;
• Identification of key wildlife movement corridors through winter tracking surveys to determine optimal locations for wildlife crossings in the environmental sensitive areas;
• Identification of sensitive habitat features (such as sharp-tailed grouse leks, and other species at risk observations) for avoidance and preservation;
• Increased scientific knowledge of the Northeast and Small Swales. AtkinsRéalis and the Meewasin Valley Authority conducted parallel studies of these features, deepening our understanding of these ecosystems;
• Construction of multi-use pathways through the swale areas can be designed to be utilized by wildlife, pedestrians, and cyclists with input from the Meewasin Valley Authority; and
• Preservation and enhancement of key habitats is also an objective of this study. The results of Species at Risk surveys and stakeholder engagement resulted in the movement of the alignment and addition of over a kilometre of roadway to avoid sensitive habitat fragmentation in the Northeast and Small Swales.